Minutes of AGM 091210 - March Golf Club

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Minutes of the Forty Nineth Annual General Meeting of the MARCH GOLF CLUB Ltd, held at The Clubhouse,
Grange Road, March on Thursday 9 th December 2010 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: 42 Full Members.
1. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for giving up their time to attend the
AGM.
Apologies for absence were received from: Mr Steve Campbell, Mr Ken Pope, Mr Ivan Roberts, Mr John
Skoulding, Mr Graham Welland, Mr Peter Jones, Mr Ross Gentle, Mr Brian Salih
2. Minutes of the 48 th Annual General Meeting held on 10 th December 2009 were approved as a true and
correct record of the meeting. The Chairman announced that, following a suggestion made at the last AGM,
Maurice Wiles is now a Life Member of the Club.
3. Report of the Management Committee and Statement of Accounts were considered by the meeting. Mr
Mark Deighton of the Club’s auditors, Whiting and Partners reported that the small deficit this year was made
better by social funds incorporated into the company accounts.
Mr John Papworth asked how much income has been generated from funeral bookings. Mr Deighton replied
that the Club has made £60 per function for room hire. The Chairman confirmed that to date we have had 6
funeral bookings.
4. Chairman’s Report. Mr Graham Lockwood gave the following report.
“I would like to say a big thank you to the committee for their hard work and the time and effort they have put
in this year. Very often the only perk of being on the committee is a parking space!
I would also like to thank the staff of the club for doing a good job this year. A huge thanks to Malcolm, Geoff,
Maurice and Fred for the superb condition of the course. Thanks also to Peter and his staff and to Alex for
helping Nick with competitions. My thanks also go to the Secretary, Michal, for all the work she does behind
the scenes.
As at today, membership numbers are: 7 day: 220, 5 day: 40, Juniors & students: 8, Social: 26. Although we
had 26 resignations in October, we have gained 11 new members since the 1 st October 2010.
I would like to give a public thanks to Jim Coote for the work he has done over the years on the website. This
task has now been handed over to Stephen Layton. A big thanks to you Stephen for the work you have done
on the new web design. Thanks also to Dick Cannell for the work he did in obtaining the new Club licence.
Also a mention to Chris Hodson who is working hard on obtaining council approval for the Club’s new
signboard on by bypasss.
Looking back over the past 12 months, I am happy to report that the management committee have achieved a
lot. Thanks to Ken Pope who did a lot of work on getting the Club’s Health and Safety policies in place. We
have bought new greens equipment, new office equipment and refurbished the clubhouse. I’m sure you’ll
agree it looks a lot better. A lot of work has also been done on getting the club’s policies and procedures in
place.
Moving forward the committee are exploring ways to increase membership numbers and alternative ways of
generating income. We would like to invite all members to attend a presentation in the Clubhouse on the 25 th
January 2011 where the development committee will share some of their ideas.”
5. Captain’s Report. Mr Chris Hodson gave the following report.
“Mr Chairman, Mr President, ladies & gentleman, first of all I would like to thank Lui Graziano for giving me the
opportunity of being Vice Captain last year and Captain this year.
Overall it has been a very busy but thoroughly enjoyable year. I am very pleased my back has held up under
the pressure of having to play so much more golf than I was used too:
o I had a serious back problem 6 years ago and did not think I would play again
o The Physio said why don’t you start playing again with half a swing?
o I replied that I only had half a swing to start with!
Weather/Course
• As you all know we have had very mixed weather this year:
o Starting off with snow and ice so that I had to delay my ‘Drive In’. Now we are ending this year the
same way.

o
In between we had some very good weather, except for those who played, or should I say, tried to
play in the 2 Sutton Bridge matches.
• Throughout all of this, our course has been in tremendous condition and I would like to thank Malcolm and
his team of Geoff and Maurice, not only for the condition of the course, but for all of their support
throughout the year.
Matches
o With regard to the Friendly Matches I wish to thank our Ladies Captain Maureen, Seniors Captain Ken
and Scratch Captain Andy for their support this year. Even if Andy did pinch one of my players at the 11 th
hour on a couple of occasions.
o
With regard to the Scratch Team, I know Andy is particularly pleased that they more than doubled their
points tally this year, compared to 2009, enabling them to move off the bottom. Well done.
o With regard to Men’s Friendly Matches, I am pleased to report we had a winning season, won 8, halved 3
and lost 7.
o With regard to the Mixed Friendly Matches, we were undefeated at home, won 1, halved 1 but lost all 3
away.
o
o
However, more important than match results was the support all of you gave to the Club:
o In all 64 men played in the Friendly Matches, representing a third of the male membership
o This included 24 men who had not played for the Club before
o Similarly 17 ladies played in the Mixed Matches and Internal Mixed Competitions, representing
half of the lady membership
o Again this included 3 ladies who had not played in matches before
I just hope that many of those new match players will continue to support next year’s Captain.
Thanks
o There are several people I would like to thank:
o A special thank you to our Steward Peter who has been very helpful particularly on match days &
Captains Day.
o Our Caterers and Christine in particular, have looked after us very well this year and stand up well
in comparison to all the other clubs we have visited this year.
o Also a special thank you to our Competition’s Secretary Nick for his general assistance and
guidance. In particular for getting up early one Saturday morning to oversee my belated ‘Drive In’
o Our Professional Alex has also been very supportive, particularly his assistance with the mixed
competitions and matches.
o There has also been the behind the scene support from our Secretary Michal, regarding match
fixtures and correspondence. Oh what fun we have had over the last few months with the
Planning Department in our endeavours to secure planning approval for a new advertisement
sign.
Charities
o Lady Captain, Senior Captain and I supported 2 charities this year, namely Help For Heroes and
Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for prostate cancer, raising a total of £3351 (£2592 + £759)
o In particular I would like to thank Phil Softley, Brenda Softley and Ken Pope for all their help with
the Help For Heroes Charity weekend
o Also the Social Committee for their support with the Golf Club Ball being the main focus for the
Help For Heroes Charity event.
Finally
o I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and good health in the New Year.
6. Election of Officers
a. President. The Chairman announced that Mr Wiles will be entering his second year as President.
Mr Wiles thanked the members and said that he has thoroughly enjoyed his first year as President.
b. Chairman. Mr Graham Lockwood was nominated by the management committee. There were no
further nominations and Mr Lockwood was duly elected. Mr Lockwood accepted the position.
c. Vice-Chairman. Mr Brian Salih was nominated by the management committee. There were no
further nominations and Mr Salih was duly elected.

d. Committee. The Chairman reported that the following nominations for committee had been
received: Mr Chris Bateman, Mr Richard Cannell, Mr Lui Graziano, Mr Chris Hodson, Mr Stephen
Layton, Mr Phil Softley, Mr Norman Topliss, Mr Charlie Dickson, Mrs Brenda Softley, Mrs Eileen
Clapham, Mrs Maureen Pope and Mrs Teresa Layton. All were duly elected.
7. Election Of Captain and Vice-Captain The Immediate Past Captain, Mr Chris Hodson, asked members to
welcome Mr Phil Softley as Club Captain for the year 2011. Mr Softley shook hands with Mr Hodson to a
warm round of applause, he then addressed the meeting.
“It is a privilege and an honour to be nominated as captain of March golf Club for the coming year and to
thank Chris for this nomination. He will be a hard act to follow as I’m sure you will agree he has been an
exceptional captain. I would also like to thank him for the help and advice given to prepare for the year ahead.
I look forward to the challenge. It is now my pleasure to introduce to you the ladies’ captain for the forthcoming
year, Brenda Softley. I look forward to working with Brenda knowing full well that should I make any mistakes
she will be there to advise me in her quiet unassuming manner.
This brings me to our joint captains’ charity. This disease has affected both of our families so our chosen
charity for the coming year is the Bowel Cancer Association.
I would like to thank Nick Carter for agreeing to be our Competitions Secretary for 2011.
Finally I would like to introduce you to my Vice Captain for the coming year, Stephen Layton.”
Mr Layton then addressed the meeting.
“President Maurice, Chairman Graham, Captain Phil, Lady Captain Brenda, Seniors’
Captain Charlie, members of March Golf Club.
May I be one of the first to offer Phil my warmest congratulations on becoming Club
Captain and may I also wish him every success in his Captain’s year.
Secondly, may I thank Phil for his trust and confidence in asking me to become his vicecaptain,
an honour that I readily accept.
Phil, you can be assured of my wholehearted support, commitment and respect for the
traditions, history and values of this club and for the game of golf.”
8. Appointment of Auditors It was agreed, following a proposition from the Chairman on behalf of the
Committee, that Whiting and Partners be appointed the Club’s auditors up to the AGM of 2011.
9. The Immediate Past Captain, assisted by Competitions Secretary, Nick Carter, presented the Club’s trophies
and prizes for 2009/10.
The Chairman reported that there were no authorised issues for discussion under Any Other Business and closed the
meeting at 8.10pm.